220 farmers'' and mechanics' journal. 



the weight of only 35 lb. The improvetnont in the quality of the 

 article thus far exceeds the additional labor ; and non(! would hesi- 

 tate to give an additional price, since both the value and the coin- 

 fort of our dwellings depend so nnuch on the quality of the mate- 

 rials of which they are constructed. 



The next part of the process is the moulding of the bricks. This 

 is a very simple operation, and requires very little skill, unless it 

 be to make the greatest number in the shortest time ; and the day's 

 labor of a handy workman, emoloyed from five in the morning un- 

 til eight at night, is calculated at about 5000. The clay is brought 

 to the moulder's bench in lumps somewhat larger than will fit the 

 mould. The moulder having dipt his mould info dry sand, works 

 tl>e clay into it, and with a flat smooth stick strikes off the super- 

 fluous earth. The bricks are then carried to the hack, and there 

 ranged with great regularity one above the other, a little diagonal- 

 ly, in order to give a free passage to the air. The hacks are 

 usually made eight bricks high ; and wide enough for two bricks to 

 be placed edgewise across, with a passage between Ihe heads of 

 each brick. In fine weather, a few days are suflicient to make 

 them dry enough to be shifted ; which is done by turning them, 

 and resetting them more open ; and in six or eight days more they 

 are ready for the fire. 



Mr. Goldham observes, that bricks will have double the strength 

 if, after one burning, they be steeped in water and burned afresh. 

 " The excellency of bricks," says Mr. Malcolm, in his Compendium 

 of Mo dp rn Husbandry, " consists chiefly in the first and last opera- 

 tions — in the tempering of the clay, and in the burning of the 

 bricks ; and as every man who has occasion to use bricks, 

 whether on his own estate, or on that of his landlord, cannot but 

 be sensible of the great value of a perfectly dry house ; and as it is 

 impossible a house can be dry if bricks are used which are insuffi- 

 ciently burnt, he will do well to consider whether it will be more 

 advantageous to him in the end, to make use of the very best hard 

 sound bricks, be the color of them what they may, and be the cost 

 of them what they will. Such bricks are easily known by their 

 sound, and by their striking fire with steel." For a more minute 

 account of the various processes of brick-making, we must refer 

 our readers to that author, from whom much of the preceding in- 

 formation has been extracted. 



Bricks are made in various forms ; but those which are made 

 for sale, and are in common use for building, are required, by act 

 of Parliament, to be not less than 8 1-2 inches long, 2 1-2 thick, 

 and 4 inches wide. There are also square bricks, for pavement 

 or facing walls ; and cutting bricks, which are used for arches over 

 doors and windows, being rubbed to a centre, and guaged to a 

 height. Various improvements, however, have of late been made 

 in the moulding of bricks ; and as the use of this article is daily 

 becoming more prevalent, they are now formed so as to suit almost 

 every purpose in building. Among these improvements, the patent 

 bricks of Mr. Cartwright deserve particular attention. These 



